Larkfleld Communlty Church Trustees Report and Accounts For Year Ended 31# December 2023 Registered Charity Number: 1120956
Larkfield Communit Church Headings: Information Trustees Report Independent Examiners Report Statement of Financial Activities
LARKFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT INFORMATION STATUS: Constituted by a Deed of Trust and is a registered charity No.. 1120956 TRUSTEES: Mark Hayton (Minister and Lead Elderl Steve Johnson IElderl Roger Bedford (Elderl Paul Jacobs (Elderl REGISTERED ADDRESS: 55, The Ferns, Larkfield. Aylesford, Kent, ME20 6NE. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Lisa Darby FCA Stewardship, I, Lamb's Passage, London, ECIY 8A8. BANKERS: Barclays Bank
LARKFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 AIM The primary aim of Larkfield Community Church ILCCI is to provide a Church where every man, woman and child can understand the good news of Jesus Christ and grow in their service for the glory of God. 08JECTIVES The principal objects of the charity are: l. The advancement of the Christian religion both in the UK and overseas. 2. The advancement, for the public benefit, of religious or other education. 3. The relief of the poor. sick, disabled, lonely or homeless. LCC ha5 a longstanding relationship with the Assemblies of God IAOGI UK; a Christian organisation of over 500 Churches that pursue similar objectives in the U K and overseas. LCC works with the AOG to support other Churches where needed. During the year, 3 Yo of LCC'S income has been given to help the objectives of the AOG, which can be done on a much larger scale than LCC could do independently. LCC is also an active member of Churches Together in Malling, a local inter-denominational group of 25 Churches. The four Trustees of LCC are also the four Church Elders. One of them is the nominated 'Lead' Elder who has Accredited Ministerial Status with the AOG. In keeping with the constitution of the AOG, the Minister is also the Trustee Chair. The Minister of LCC is in full time secular employment and aligns with the other Trustees to serve the Church in a voluntary capacity, thus allowing all funds to be directed where needed. The life and teaching of the Church is governed by the wider LCC Leadership Team, comprising of the four Church Elders (Trustees), three of their wives, the Treasurer/Administrator, and the Children's Leader. The Trustees meet at least bi-monthly with the wider LCC Leadership Team, to receive reports and financial statements detailing the opportunities and risks faced, enabling them to plan or curtail activities accordingly. Day to day decisions on expenditure are decided by the Trustees. The powers of appointment or removal of a Trustee re5t5 Wlth the Trustees. They are selected from the LCC Leadership Team to ensure the Trustee body is homogeneous with the mission. The Church currently employs three people on a PAYE basis, namely= TreasurerlAdministrator. In June 2023 this person commenced a 3-year Minister in Training IMITI Course with the AOG. Correspondingly, their hours of paid employment rose from 10 to 21 per week to help cover their additional responsibilities.
Cleaner. This person is employed for 8 hours per week (to clean and service the church building- The Dorcas Centrel. Children's Leader. This person is employed for 10 hours per week Iwithin the Church and in some local Primary Schools clubs, formal mentoring, holiday activities and school assembliesl. It is the involvement of every member of LCC, whether receiving some remuneration or not, that will make the difference in the Church achieving its aims. This is done through.. being 'salt and light, in the community, amongst the people they interact with every day,. by praying, by visiting the sick and helping those in need, being involved in training others, through publicteaching and worship, and administration. The financial resources of LCC are mainly given by its members. Much of the work achieved happens privately and without recognition,. the hours and value of that time cannot be quantified. LCC has an operational Safeguarding Policy approved by the Thirtyone'.eight Safeguarding Organisation. Training and refresher training in Safeguarding for members/staff is an ongoing constant and a standing item at each Leadership/Trustee meeting. The policy is reviewed annually by the Safeguarding Lead. One Sunday service per annum is devoted as 'Safeguarding Sunday. to further highlight this key policy.
LARKFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE LCC have an excellent relationship with Brookfield Junior School and continued to meet free of charge each Sunday morning in the school hall for sung worship, prayer and bible teaching. After the decline in numbers attending 'in person, services post-covid lapproximately halved) reported in 2022, the number of attendees through 2023 have steadied and a small number of new people are attending regularly. Indeed, a highlight of the year was 5 water baptisms. Although the Children's Leader was on maternity leave f rom February 2023, the children's ministry (J Team) was able to continue with volunteers and the crèche facility was a150 available. Some LCC members continued to meet online mid-week for further friendship, prayer and bible teaching. As in previous years. LCC members helped Brookfield Junior School to raise funds at their school summer fete and bonfire night events by running the ref reshment stands. For their mid-week outreach work, since 1999, LCC have leased and maintain a double classroom sized timber building from Kent County Council called, The Dorcas Centre, located on the Brookfield School site. A further extension of the lease has been negotiated this year until mid-2028. M id-week activities included.. A popular Wednesday morning 'drop-in' breakfast bible study group called Refreshment Plus. Foodbank. Volunteers gather, sort, pack and deliver donated food to people (individuals and families) in crisis. This ministry extends to additional welfare support on a case-by-case basis. 'Let's do Lunch,, for senior citizens/lonely people. At least 7 LCC members regularly volunteer with this ministry alongside people from other Churches and the community. A free taxi service is provided where needed. The Dorcas Centre was also made available for use, free of charge, to the 3 Schools on the site and to other community groups such as a Monday Child Minders coffee morning, a Tuesday elderly social group, and an Amateur Dramatics group. LCC also partnered with and gave some funding and/or volunteers to.. The Family Trust. Several LCC members volunteer for this Christian Charity providing prayer spaces, lunch/after school Christian clubs and mentoring in primary and secondary Schools. Street Pastors. Several LCC members are involved with this ministry in Maidstone.
'New Life, Christian Newspaper Ifund 50 copies per monthl containing upliftin8 stories for inmates of HMP Elmley. Compassion. Through this Christian Charity, at the last count, LCC members sponsored 28 children overseas, helping to lift them out of poverty in Jesus name. The Trustees have complied with the duty under the Charities Acts to have due regard to the public benef it guidance published by the Charity Commission. PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR The key strategies for LCC remain the same, however in September 2019 the Trustees became aware of a housing scheme on land called 40 Acres, East Malling labout a mile from our current sitel that included a new community building. The Trustees reached out to the developers, Wates Ltd., and held discussions with them regarding the feasibility of the community building becoming LCC'S permanent home. At the time of writing, the detailed planning proposal for the development has been approved and construction on the site is well under way. Wates, building division, Vistry Homes, have offered LCC the community building, 'shell and core, (this means LCC will need to fit out the interior in its entirety) and a good-sized carpark freehold for £1. Further negotiations are ongoing as the current suggested building lacks the space for a breakout room from the hall for the Sunday children/youth work or for a foyer and an office. If this can be overcome it 15 anticipated that LCC will acquire possession of the Community Building, car park and some adjoining land around December 2026. LCC have identified a company that can undertake the internal fitting of the building for £200-350K depending on the specif ication. This remains an exciting opportunity for LCC and will result being able to upscale its community provision. The LCC Leadership Team advertised their Youth Leader vacancy to all churches acr055 the region without success. Again. at the time of writing, this appointment remains a priority and thankfully an appointment is imminent on a voluntary basis. FINANCIAL REVIEW Finances required to fund activities are raised through regular giving and one-off donations from Church members, supplemented by the refund of income tax from HM Revenue and Customs through the Gift Aid Scheme. Despite the reported decrease in attendance/membership since the Covid restrictions were lifted, remaining members continued to be generous and overall income was similar to previous years. Total receipts for the year were £51,88712022'. £47,017) with expenditure amounting to £50,36212022: £42,223) resulting in net increase £l,52512022'. £4,794). The funds carried forward at the year-end amounted to £104,04712022.. £102,521). Of these funds, £75,802 have designated purposes12022: £72,070}.
The Trustees have reviewed the Reserves Policy and retain in the current account a minimum of £15,000, sufficient for the foreseeable needs of the Church. GRANT MAKING POLICY Gifts to external organisations and individuals are considered by the trustees on the basis of need and fulfilment of the charitable objectives. The trustees aim to gift IO% of their annual income. They are reactive to requests after careful consideration. RISK MANAGEMENT All major insurable risks are subject to Public and Employer's Liability Insurance. Contractual risks are reviewed before being entered into to assess that they could not significantly impart upon the churches ability to fulfil its objectives. An annual review of areas of risk is undertaken by the Trustees in conjunction with volunteers responsible for the area of activity. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE5 RESPONSIBILITIES Charity law requires the Trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the profit and loss of the Charity for that period. In preparing these accounts, the Trustees are required to:_ Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. Make adjustments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. Prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Acts. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees confirm that the accounts comply with current statutory requirements and those of the Charitvs Trust Deed. Approved by the Board of Trustees on: Oct 21, 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Mark Hayton MA Living life, loving God and serving our community.
Independent Examinels Report To the Trustee5 of Lorie1d Community Church I report to the trustees on my eKorninetion of the accounts of Lorkfield Community Church (the chorityl for the yeor ended 31 December 2023 on page$ 10 to 13 follov4ing. Responslbllltles ond bosls of report As the charity trL4Stees you are responsible tor the preporotion ol the accounts in accordance with the requirernents of the Charitie5 kn 2011 I'the I report in respect of my exominotion ol the charity's occounts cornied out under section 145 of the 2011 Act ond in carrying OLrt my exominotion I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chority Commission under section 1451511bl of the Act. Independent exomlnels stotement I howe completed tny exominotion. I confirm thot no moteriol motters hove come to my ottention in connection wich the eKomination giving Me couse to believe thot in ony material respect. occounting record5 were not kept in respect of the charty a5 required by Section 130 of the Actr,. or 2. the occounts do not occord with those cOrdS. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examinotion to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enoble a proper understanding of the accounts to be reoched. Liso Dorby FCA For and on behalf of.. Stewordship l Lomb's Possage London ECIY8AB Dote.. Oct 22, 2024
LARKFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 1ST JANUARY 2023 to 31ST DECEMBER 2023 PREPARED ON THE RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS BASIS Prepared by C.L.Dobson Treasurer forAccounting Year UnrerICted General Fund 2023 Designated Funds 2023 unreIled General Fund 2022 Designated Funds 2022 Notes Total Funds 2023 Total Funds 2022 Receipt5 Volunt(Yry Receipt5 Qfferings and Donations Gift Aid Donations Tax Refund5 under Gift Aid 2,301.61 31,966.46 8,186.18 2,301.61 31,966.46 8,186.18 3,317.19 31,075.35 7,638.15 3,317.19 31,075.3S 7,638.15 Totsl Voluntary Receipt5 42,454.25 42,454.25 42,030.69 42.030.69 Other Receipts Interest received Foodbank DonatlQn5 Other Total Reteipts 898.51 6,920.98 898.51 6,920.98 1,612.96 51.886.70 83.06 660.00 83.06 66D.00 4,242.82 47.016.57 1,612.96 44,067.21 4,242.82 46.273.51 7.819.49 743.06 Payments Payments in furtherance of Church's objectives Direit Costs Grants to Individuals Grants to Institutions 43,953.94 4,087.59 48,041.53 37,437.50 545.18 37.982.68 2,320.00 2,320. 4,240.21 4,24Q.21 T¢)tsl Payments 46.273.94 4.087.59 50.361.53 41.677.71 545.18 42.222.89 Net Receipts I (Payments) before Transfer5 12,206.731 3,731.90 1,525.17 4,595.80 197.88 4,793.68 Cash funds as at last year end Transfers in Funds 30,451.82 72,069.67 102,521.49 25,856.02 71,871.79 97,727.81 sh fund5 a5 at this year end 28.245.09 £ 75.801.57 £ 104.046.66 30.451.82 £ 72.069.67 £ 102.521.49 10
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIE5 A5 AT 31st DECEMBER 2023 Insurance V?lue 2023 Insurance Value 2022 I. FIXED ASSETS The values of the assets owned or leased are.. 151,427. 30,125. £181,552.00 140,210.CNI 30,125.CNI £170,335.00 Moveable Contents Total The property and content5 are part of the charity'5 general funds. The Dorcas Centre lease has been renewed in lune 2023 for another 5 year5. 2023 2022 2. BANK AND CASH BALANCE5 Held at Bank Funds On Deposit Deposit Account 31,780.85 31,154.19 52,102.01 51,530.46 20,163.80 19.836 84 £104,046.66 £102,521.49 The analysis of the bank and cash balances between funds is shown on the face of the receipt5 and payrnents account. 3. OTHER ASSEfs AND LIABILITIES Assets AOG Conference 2024 paid In advance Gift Ald recovery not yet received 2,850.84 4,053.69 6,904.53 £ 2,333.59 4,243.89 6,577.48 HMRC Independent Examinètion Fee 110.47 800. £910.47 780.00 £780.00 There is a rolling amount of non-perishable/dried food stock retained at the Dorcas Centre which varies accordinE to demand. The accounts wère apprtrved bythÈ trusteès and sigriÈd ori their behalf by.. Oct 21, 2024 Mark Hayton (Trusteel Date..
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD IstJANUARY 2023 TO 31st DECEMBER 2023 l. Atcountin8 Policies The accounts have been preparèd on a recèipts and paymènts basis and compris& a staièmeni thai shows the charitYs receipts and payments, a 5tatetnent that sutntnarises the ¢haritYs assets and liabilities and related notes. The aautancY profession have detertnined that only accounts prepared in aGGor(lance with applicable accounting standards present a Irue and fair, wew and. as these receipts 8nd payments 8ccounls have not 13nd cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards. these accounts do not present land are not intended lo pre5enll a'lrue 8nd f8irf view of the charitys financial activities and stale of affairs. Gener81 funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been Set aside by the trustees for particular purwses. Restricted fund8 ar8 donation8 which ar8 to b8 used in accordanc8 with 8P8cific reslriclions impo88d by donors., Ih8y Includ8 donation8 r8ceiv8d from app88ls for sp8cific activities or projects. 2. Dlrect Costs 2023 2023 2022 2022 Property RenVLease 2,633.30 1,035.62 1,672.04 1,694.85 1,706.13 4,780.11 566.57 200.00 16,131.35 2,635. 507.93 1,552.42 1,570.85 2,566.37 4,004.69 Insurance / Licences Subscriptions Missi)n and Ministry Conference and Courses Church Artivities Equipment l Furnishing Administr3tion Youth Work Childrens work Maintenance IDorcasl Foodbank IDe5ignated Fundl Other Costs 2,562.84 10,159.28 6,342.38 7,191.59 4,087.59 6,500.26 5,377.86 545.18 E48,041.53 £48,041.53 £37,982.68 3. Grant5 Paid 2,320.W £50,361.53 4,240.21 £42,222.89 Total 12
- Employees During 2023, The Church employed three part tlme members of staff. Children's Pastor TreasurerlAdministratorlMini5ter In Training since June Caretaker
- Payments to Trustees No payments were made to trustees or related parties during 2023, other than the direct reimbursement of expenses inCUrd with no profit element.
- Movement of Fund5 Balance at 31 Dec 2022 Balance at 31 Dec 2023 Receipt5 Paytnent5 Transfers General funds 30,451.82 44,067.21 146,273.941 28,245.09 Designated funds Vision Fund 71,367.30 702.37 72,069.67 898.51 72,265.81 3,535.76 75,801.57 Foodbank Fund 6,920.98 7,819.49 14.087.591 14.087.591 Total funds 102,521.49 51,886.70 150,361.531 104,046.66 13